Crossword Genius

Refuse a black mark (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

abstain

'refuse' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'a black mark' is the wordplay.
'black' becomes 'b' (as in pencil classifications).
'mark' becomes 'stain' (synonyms).
'a'+'b'+'stain'='ABSTAIN'

(Other definitions for abstain that I've seen before include "Choose not to do something" , "Take no part" , "Hold off" , "Go without" , "decline at voting time" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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